Holiday Decorating & Safety Tips

The holidays are a lovely time of year. With seasonal decorations going up, the weather cooling down and fireplaces lighting up, holiday cheer is everywhere! The holidays are a fun-filled time of year, but make sure you don’t forget about safety. With all of the lights, glass and flammable décor you are using, take these safety tips into consideration. Before we get to the safety precautions you should consider, here are some fun decorating tips to use this holiday season.

 

This year, transform your family, living or dining room into a rich oasis that will surely make a statement. First, pick two, statement colors. We love red and white, in honor of the holidays. Make everything in that room those two colors. It will add a wow factor and transform your everyday living space into something truly special.

Add some bold hanging decorations in the center of the room to add some spice and shock value. This is a fun project anyone can take on!

 

 

Who said wreaths have to stay outdoors? Jazz up your interior holiday look with wreaths inside. Buy a traditional wreath, a new modern-looking wreath, or create your own using Christmas balls, construction paper, metallic wrapper paper, feathers and more!

You can create a unique looking wreath out of anything! After you have your wreath, try hanging them with a long ribbon attached to the ceiling for a very dramatic holiday look.

 

 

 

Add some metallic and bling to your traditional holiday décor! These metallic branches are a chic way to bring the outdoors in! You can go to a store like Z-Gallerie and buy these metallic branches, or you can create them yourself!

All you need are some branches; you can find in the backyard and some spray paint. Spray those brown branches a metallic silver or gold. After they are dry, try adding Christmas ornaments, jewels or crystals to them. This creates a gorgeous and unique holiday look you can use on your mantle, coffee table or even center piece!

For more fun decorating inspiration, visit Decoist.com.

 

All the fun can be distracting. Nothing is more important than your safety.

Decorating Safety:

• Avoid overloading electrical outlets. Use as many different outlets as you can, as overloading an outlet could result in a fire.
• Do not place extension cords or wires in walking areas where there is a potential of tripping.
• Keep all decorations at least 3-feet away from heat sources; heater, vents, appliances, etc.
• Make sure your Christmas tree is watered daily. A dry tree can easily catch on fire.

Fire Safety:

• Test your smoke alarms. There is going to be a lot going on during the holidays, a lot of lights on that Christmas tree and other cute, but potentially dangerous decorations. Make sure those smoke alarms are in perfect working order.
• Keep dark areas like hallways, staircases, doorways, etc., properly illuminated and free of clutter during the night. In the case of an emergency, everyone should be allowed easy access out of the home if need be.
• Share your fire escape plan with your family and overnight guests. Everyone should know at least two way out of each room and the proper way to escape if an emergency occurs.

Other Safety:

• Make sure ornaments/decorations are out of reach of small children. A child can easily cut him/herself on a glass ornament or chock on a smaller ornament.
• When cooking, wear close-fitting, short sleeves to avoid catching fire.
• Never leave an open flame unattended, even in your enclosed fireplace

For a full list of Holiday Safety tips, visit Esfi.org.